Captain Charles W. Pickering (December 23, 1815 - February 2, 1888) was an American officer of the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Becoming a Lieutenant on December 8, 1838, and a captain on July 16, 1862, his commands included the USS Vanderbilt, Kearsarge and Housatonic. He commanded the Kearsarge during its defeat of the CSS Alabama and was captain of the Housatonic during its sinking on 17 February 1864 at the hands of Confederate States Navy submarine, H.L. Hunley.